C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Jun 2018	8.7	2.278 AU	1.293 AU	18h07m	-42°22'	161.0°	8.4°	4°
Perihelion	10 Aug 2018	9.3	2.214 AU	1.790 AU	15h00m	-57°05'	100.6°	26.7°	102°
Today	7 Oct 2025	26.4	18.915 AU	18.748 AU	06h22m	+13°10'	98.1°	3.0°	274°

The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

The orbital elements of C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9998380
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2139980
            i (Inclination)                 : 90.81310
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 92.27850
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 209.92500
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 91.81050
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -29.92168
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458340.77320

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ED3

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 3.52 + 5 log[∆] + 12.95 log[r]).

The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-07 00:00 UT   06 22 06.8   +13 10 09    18.748   18.914   98.0    3.0   274   26.4 
2025-10-07 00:29 UT   06 22 06.7   +13 10 09    18.748   18.915   98.1    3.0   274   26.4 
2025-10-08 00:00 UT   06 22 04.4   +13 09 59    18.737   18.920   99.0    3.0   274   26.4 
2025-10-09 00:00 UT   06 22 01.7   +13 09 48    18.725   18.925  100.0    3.0   274   26.4 
2025-10-10 00:00 UT   06 21 58.8   +13 09 38    18.714   18.930  101.0    3.0   274   26.4 
2025-10-11 00:00 UT   06 21 55.7   +13 09 29    18.703   18.935  102.0    3.0   274   26.4 
2025-10-12 00:00 UT   06 21 52.4   +13 09 19    18.691   18.941  102.9    2.9   275   26.4 
2025-10-13 00:00 UT   06 21 48.9   +13 09 10    18.680   18.946  103.9    2.9   275   26.4 
2025-10-14 00:00 UT   06 21 45.1   +13 09 01    18.669   18.951  104.9    2.9   275   26.4 
2025-10-15 00:00 UT   06 21 41.1   +13 08 52    18.658   18.956  105.9    2.9   275   26.4 
2025-10-16 00:00 UT   06 21 36.9   +13 08 43    18.647   18.962  106.9    2.9   275   26.4 
2025-10-17 00:00 UT   06 21 32.5   +13 08 35    18.636   18.967  107.9    2.9   276   26.4 

    Terminology:
            
    delta:  distance between comet and earth in AU
    radius: distance between comet and sun in AU
    magn:   magnitude (brightness) estimate    
    ra:     right ascension in hours (24h = 360deg)
    dec:    declination in degrees
    elong:  elongation in degrees (angle sun-earth-comet)    
    phase:  phase angle in degrees (angle sun-comet-earth)        
    AU:     Astronomical Unit (mean distance between earth and sun: 149597870.7 km      
    

Orbital elements usually provided by the MPC (Minor Planet Center).
Observations contributed by observers worldwide, via COBS (Comet Observation Database) or the MPC (Minor Planet Center)
Calculations by a modified version of AAPlus, a C# implementation of the AA+ project by PJ Naughter from the algorithms presented in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
NGC2000 dso catalog and star labels from VizieR as provided by the Strasbourg astronomical Data Center.
Tycho2 catalog from the ESO archive.